A dedicated teacher in Taiwan is working to change the low rates of swimming skills among the population, particularly children. Tseng Ching-ming teaches ocean safety classes to students at Kenting-Eluan elementary school in Taiwan’s southernmost point. Despite living near the coast, swimming ability in Taiwan is low, with only 44% of people able to swim compared to global averages. This is partly due to parental protectiveness and a fear of the ocean that is deeply entrenched in Taiwanese culture.
To address this issue, efforts have been made by passionate individuals, public servants, and former president Ma Ying-jeou to improve swimming skills and reduce drowning rates. Ma launched a 12-year plan in 2011 to increase the percentage of students, public servants, and first responders who can swim. The plan involved building pools, mandating swimming lessons in schools, and embedding skill tests into public service recruitment.
While progress has been made anecdotally, there are still challenges, such as a lack of facilities in rural areas and lingering fear among parents. However, independent school programs like Tseng’s provide hope for a future where Taiwanese people are more confident in the water. Tseng’s classes have become popular, with some families even moving towns so their children can attend. Through education and awareness, the hope is to change the mindset towards swimming and the ocean in Taiwan.
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